Work platform for hydraulic fracturing operations

ABSTRACT

A modular work platform providing at least two adjustable work levels supported by transverse frames and an adjustable base plate, where a deck support bracket may be affixed over a frame pin to support the corners of the modular deck unit.

PRIORITY STATEMENT

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/345,336, filed May 17, 2010 entitled Work Platform for HydraulicFracturing Operations.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The instant disclosure relates generally to the field of work platforms.

BACKGROUND

Hydraulic Fracturing was first used commercially in 1949, and due to itssuccess, is now widely used in the gas and oil industry to provide wellswith added exposure to the oil and gas bearing formations. Commonhydraulic fracturing wellhead configurations currently used in theindustry (in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States, forexample) consist of wellheads that project above the ground surfaceapproximately thirty feet. Several fittings and valves on thesewellheads must be accessed at all levels during the fracturing process.

Light-duty single-level work platforms were used in the past to provideaccess to the lower levels of the wellheads. These single-levelplatforms proved inconvenient, as additional lifts with man-baskets wererequired to provide access to the upper levels of the wellheads. Inaddition, these light-duty work platforms do not meet OSHA (OccupationalSafety and Health Administration) requirements.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments described herein relate to a modular work platform foruse in the field of mineral extraction and in other fields. Moreparticularly, certain embodiments relate to the technical field ofnatural gas and oil extraction. Some embodiments relate to the technicalfield of hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas bearing formations forcompletions of natural gas and oil wells for natural gas and oilextraction.

Some embodiments disclosed herein provide improved access to hydraulicfracturing equipment, typically on a wellhead above the ground surface.Certain embodiments include a system that provides access to two levelsalong the above-ground wellhead, and is adjustable and modular to allowfor field erection, break-down and transport.

Certain embodiments of the work platform for hydraulic fracturingoperations provide two adjustable work levels to access hydraulicfracturing wellheads. Stairways and handrails may provide efficient andsafe access to the wellheads. When used in the field of natural gas andoil extraction, the work platform may serve six wellheadssimultaneously. In other embodiments, the work platform may serve anynumber of wellheads. In certain embodiments, some components of thesystem may be designed to be modular to allow for efficient erection,disassembly and transport, and may be designed to meet or exceedOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safetyrequirements.

The primary structural components of the Work Platform for HydraulicFracturing Operations consist of Transverse Frame Units, Frame Pins,Deck Support Brackets, Modular Deck Units and Adjustable Base Plates. Incertain embodiments, some components consist of Adjustable Cross-Braces,Adjustable Stairs and Handrails. In some embodiments, components of thework platform are steel. In other embodiments, the work platformcomponents consist of other building materials known to those skilled inthe art such as, but not limited to, aluminum, titanium or stainlesssteel. In some embodiments, the structural components may be assembledwith welded connections, and may be then attached to one another usingpinned connections.

Changes and/or modifications to the work platform may be made to thedisclosed embodiments to accommodate any number of additionalrequirements, including, but not limited to, different floor loadingrequirements, wellhead spacing and height, stair and railingconfiguration, and height adjustment requirements. In addition, bolted,pinned and welded connections may be changed as required to satisfydifferent fabrication and erection requirements.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention are setforth or are more fully apparent in the description that follows and inthe appended drawings. Furthermore, the features and advantages of theinvention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will beobvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order for the manner in which the above recited and other featuresand advantages of the present invention are obtained, a more particulardescription of the invention will be rendered by reference to specificembodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings.Understanding that the drawings depict only typical embodiments of thepresent invention and are not, therefore, considered as limiting thescope of the invention, the present invention will be described andexplained with additional specificity and detail through the use of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the work platform.

FIG. 2 is side view of the work platform.

FIG. 3 is a close up view of the transverse frame.

FIG. 4 is a close up view of the frame pin.

FIG. 5 shows various views of the deck support bracket.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the modular deck unit.

FIG. 7 is a close up view of the corner angle pocket.

FIG. 8 is a close up view of the adjustable base plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The instant disclosure relates generally to the field of work platforms.This disclosure is intended to provide a general description of oneexemplary embodiment in which some embodiments may be configured andimplemented. One skilled in the art, though, will appreciate that theinvention may be embodied by a variety of configurations.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary work platform 10. As illustratedin this figure, in at least one embodiment work platform 10 includes afirst modular deck unit 12 and a second modular deck unit 14. The workplatform 10 supports the first modular deck unit 12 and second modulardeck unit 14 by at least one transverse frame 16. Each transverse framemay include an adjustable base plate 18. In addition, a frame pin 20 ispositioned along a first support 22 of the transverse frame 16. A decksupport bracket 24 may also be affixed over the frame pin 20 and may beused to support the corners of the modular deck units, 12, 14.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the exemplary work platform 10 accordingto at least one embodiment. FIG. 2 shows modular deck units 12 and 14including their structural support. For instance, this embodiment showsdeck support bracket 24 as it is affixed over the frame pin 20. In someembodiments, the frame pin 20 may connect first transverse frame 16 witha second transverse frame 26 in a substantially vertical manner. Inaddition, the deck support bracket 24 may support the corners of themodular deck units 12, 14. This embodiment also shows adjustable baseplate 18 supporting the work platform 10 at the ground level.

FIG. 3 represents the transverse frame 16 in isolation from workplatform 10. In some embodiments, the transverse frame 16 may providelateral stability and support for the work platform 10. In at least oneembodiment, as is shown in FIG. 3, the transverse frame 16 may includefirst vertical support 28, horizontal support 30, a second verticalsupport 32, a first and second diagonal brace 34, 36, a first and seconddiagonal support 38, 40, and a first and second tube seat 42, 44.

FIG. 3 also shows a cross-sectional view of a representative embodimentof transverse frame 16. This embodiment shows a first pin connectionopening 46, the horizontal support 30, the vertical support 28, thediagonal support 38, the tube seat and pad-eye 42 and a second pinconnection opening 48. In certain embodiments, the transverse frame 16uses hollow structural sections (HSS), which are materials having ametal profile with a hollow tubular cross section. In some embodiments,the HSS are of circular or rectangular section, or even elliptical. Asshown in this figure, the first and second tube seats, 42, 44, provideconvenient connection points for the first and second diagonal supports,38, 40, and the first and second diagonal braces 34, 36. As is alsoshown in this figure, the pin connection openings, 46, 48, are providedfor connection to frame pins (not shown in this figure).

FIG. 4 shows a representative frame pin 50. In certain embodiments,frame pin 50 includes two connectors; an inner connector 52 and an outerconnector 54. As shown in this figure, the outer connector 54 may beshorter and wider than the inner connector 52, so that the smaller,longer inner connector 52 is centered on the inside of the larger,shorter outer connector 54, the ends of the inner connector projectingfrom each end of the larger outer connector 54. In some embodiments,frame pin 50 may connect transverse frame 16 (not shown in this figure)with second transverse frame 26. In at least one embodiment, the ends 56of inner tube 52 slide inside first and second vertical support 28, 32and may be affixed with removable pins 58 (not shown) through frame pinconnection opening 60, thereby connecting the first and second verticalsupports 28, 32 together. In some embodiments, the first and secondsupports 28, 32 bear directly on the ends 56 of inner tube 52. Frame pin50 may have height adjustment openings 62 at uniform intervals for deckheight adjustments.

FIG. 5 shows various views of deck support bracket 24. In someembodiments, deck support bracket 24 affixes over frame pin 50 (notshown in FIG. 5) and includes pintles 64, a frame pin opening 66, aframe pin sleeve 68, a deck support plate 70 and stiffener plates 72. Incertain embodiments, deck support bracket 24 supports a corner 74 ofmodular deck unit 12. Some embodiments of the deck support bracket 24use steel HSS and steel plates. Other embodiments use other materialsknown to those skilled in the art. Deck support bracket 24 slides overframe pin 50 and is secured to the frame pin 50 with removable pin 58inserted through frame pin opening 66 and the height adjustment openings62 of the frame pin 50. In at least one embodiment, the stiffener plate72 reinforces the lower section of each pintle 64 and the frame pinsleeve 68. The pintle sleeve 68 on the modular deck unit 12 may be setover the pintle 64 and may be supported by the deck support plate 70.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary modular deck unit 12 that makes up the floorsystem of the work platform 10 and includes framing members 76, floordecking 78; handrail inserts 80; corner angle pockets 82; pintle sleeves84 (shown in FIG. 7) and stair connection brackets 86. In someembodiments, each modular deck unit 12 is similar such that they may beinterchangeable throughout the work platform system 10. A center section88 of the modular deck unit 12 is open and may be covered with removablesegmental floor decking 90 which may be arranged to accommodatevariations. For instance, when the work platform 10 is used in thehydraulic fracturing industry, the arrangement of the removablesegmental floor decking 90 may accommodate variations in wellheadspacing. The pintle sleeve 84 fits over the pintles 64 on the decksupport brackets 24, while the corner angle pockets 82 provide room forthe deck support brackets 24 and frame pins 20, while minimizing thespace between adjacent modular deck units.

FIG. 7 shows a close up of the corner angle pocket 82 and shows pintlesleeve 84, deck support bracket 24, framing members 76, and handrailinsert 80.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the adjustable base plate 18 as it may beused to support the work platform 12 at ground level, and where it maybe adjustable to provide leveling of the work platform 12. Theadjustable base plate 18 includes a tube insert 92 welded to a framesupport plate 94, which has a nut 96 welded over an opening 98 at itscenter. A threaded rod 100 may be attached to the center of a bearingplate 102 on one end, while the other end is threaded into the nut 96 onthe frame support plate 94, and projects through an opening 98 in thecenter of the frame support plate 94. Adjustment may be made by turningthe threaded rod 100 into or out of the nut 96. The entire assembly ofthe adjustable base plate 18 may be inserted into the end of the firstsupport 22 of the transverse frame 16 at ground level and secured withthe removable pin 58.

Certain embodiments have one or more of the following characteristics:compliance with OSHA requirements for floor loading and railing design;floor system multi-level and modular, and may be adjustable as requiredto access well fittings and valves, blow-off preventers and otherdevices; stair systems may be adjustable to accommodate all floorelevation ranges; in some embodiments, all parts and fittings may bedesigned to be similar and interchangeable in order to expedite fielderection, breakdown and transport; openings in the floor system allowwell heads to project up through all levels of the structure; floordecking sections over open sections may be arranged as required toaccommodate various well spacing and can be secured while in service;upper and lower levels may be enclosable to allow for heat entrapmentfor frost protection during cold conditions; system is designed toresist wind loading while enclosed, if properly anchored and braced; andbase plates are height adjustable for rough leveling to accommodateuneven site grades.

In addition, in some embodiments, several of the elements of workplatform 10 may be modified to accommodate different projectrequirements. These modifications include, but are not limited to, thefollowing: transverse frames 16 may be re-configured, including height,width, member sizes, member types and configurations; frame pins 50 maybe re-configured, or made integral with the transverse frames 16, andopening sizes and spacing may be changed to accommodate differentloading conditions and deck elevation increments and ranges; modulardeck unit 12 may be modified in length, width, thickness, load rating,framing member configuration and member type; deck support brackets 24may be re-configured and re-sized to accommodate frame and deckre-configurations, as well as different load ratings and adjustmentrequirements; guardrails may be changed and re-configured to accommodatedifferent lateral loading conditions, scaffold access and stairwayaccess requirements; stairways may be re-configured to accommodatedifferent access requirements; adjustable base plates 18 may bere-configured to accommodate different soil pressure requirements andadjustment ranges; cross-bracing system may be re-designed to allow fordifferent bracing scenarios (i.e. tension only or both tension andcompression); and overall framing configuration may be modified toaccommodate different well-head configurations and requirements.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive.

1. A modular work platform comprising: a first modular deck unit; asecond modular deck unit; transverse frames configured to support thefirst and second modular deck units, wherein the transverse framesinclude at least one adjustable base plate; frame pins positioned alonga support of the transverse frames; and deck support brackets affixedover the frame pins and positioned to support one or more of the cornersof the modular work platform.
 2. The modular work platform of claim 1,wherein each of the transverse frames comprises: a first verticalsupport, a horizontal support, and a second vertical support, whereinthe horizontal support is connected to the first vertical support andthe second vertical support; a first and second diagonal brace, whereinthe first diagonal brace is connected to the horizontal support and thefirst vertical support and the second diagonal brace is connected to thehorizontal support and the second vertical support; a first and seconddiagonal support, wherein the first diagonal support is connected to thefirst diagonal brace and the first vertical support and the seconddiagonal support is connected to the second diagonal brace and thesecond vertical support; and a first and second tube seat, wherein thefirst tube seat is connected to the first diagonal support and the firstvertical support and the second tube seat is connected to the seconddiagonal support and the second vertical support.
 3. The modular workplatform of claim 1, wherein at least one of the deck support bracketscomprises a first and second pintle, a frame pin opening, a frame pinsleeve, a deck support plate, and a first and a second stiffener plate.4. The modular work platform of claim 3, wherein the deck supportbracket slides over the frame pin and is secured to the frame pin with aremovable pin inserted through the frame pin opening and heightadjustment openings of the frame pin.
 5. The modular work platform ofclaim 1, wherein the frame pin comprises an inner connector and an outerconnector.
 6. The modular work platform of claim 1, wherein the firstmodular deck unit includes a portion that comprises removable segmentalfloor decking.